Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors. When he is going like he was in this game — especially in the third quarter when he had 14 of his 36 — there is nothing you can do. Miami tried switching defenders, even doubled him a few times, but it didn’t work. Curry’s quick release was too much for Miami. However it wasn’t just the hot shooting (those 36 points came on 22 shots) it was the 12 assists — he was the catalyst of some fantastic ball movement from the Warriors. This was his best game of the season and the Warriors looked like the team they were in the playoffs last year for the first time in a while.

David Lee, Goden State Warriors. Golden State clearly had a plan early to punish Miami inside and it was David Lee who took the most advantage — he had 13 points in the first 12 minutes as Shane Battier had no answers for him. Lee finished 32 points on 17 shots, plus he pulled down 14 rebounds. Lee the last few weeks is playing as well as I can remember him playing.

Orlando Magic’s last 50 seconds of regulation (and overtime). If you have a nine point lead with one minute left in the game, you should not lose it. This was an ugly loss, there were so many mistakes at the end. Like Jameer Nelson fouling Jarrett Jack on a three point attempt. Or how E’Twaun Moore missed two clutch free throws (a guy shooting 90 percent from the stipe the rest of the season). Or there was Dion Waiters driving layup to tie the game — he blows by Arron Afflalo and there is just no help. It was a lot of mistakes that opened the door for the Cavaliers to come back.

Brooklyn Nets. A come from behind win on the road to beat Oklahoma City? I don’t care who the Thunder were without, that’s the Brooklyn Nets we thought we were getting this season. The turnaround was sparked with Paul Pierce at the four and Deron Williams dropping a season-best 29. Then Joe Johnson capped the whole thing off in dramatic fashion.

Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks. He is not getting this grade for the 27 points, although it showed how much the Knicks needed him back. He’s not getting this grade for the dozen rebounds. No, he is getting this grade because he was drawing the double then sharing the rock with the open man. His four assists on the night don’t do justice to how he was sharing the rock and how the rest of the Knicks followed his lead. That ball movement exposed a night of slow Spurs defensive rotations (uncharacteristic of them) and it all started with Anthony.

I don’t remember playing tonight. I didn’t play. Guys get a lot of money to be ready to play. No Knute Rockne speeches. It’s your job. If you’re a plumber and you don’t do your job, you don’t get any work. I don’t think a plumber needs a pep talk. If a doctor botches operations, he’s not a doctor anymore. If you’re a basketball player, you come ready. It’s called maturity. It’s your job.

Like it or not, motivation is part of an NBA coach’s job.

But that’s also precisely what Popovich is doing.

His credentials dwarf any other coach’s. He can play to his own ego and absolve himself of responsibility – and players will seek to please him. His years of success have earned him the ability to motivate this way, a method no other coach could use without alienating his team.

So, why not hold Motiejunas to what became a four-year, $31 million offer sheet once matched? Houston got something in return – a later trigger date on guaranteeing Motiejunas’ 2017-18 salary. Originally, that decision had to be made March 1 – which would’ve meant dropping Motiejunas from the team this season to prevent his salary from counting next season. Now, the Rockets can make that call in July, after this season is complete.

The following two Julys, Houston will also have a choice on guaranteeing Motiejunas’ upcoming salary or dropping him.

Essentially, Motiejunas is signing the most lucrative Hinkie Special in NBA history. If he plays well and stays healthy, the Rockets have Motiejunas at an affordable rate. If he struggles or his back injuries flare up, they can drop him with little to no penalty.

After they backed themselves into this corner, Motiejunas and his agent, B.J. Armstrong, didn’t do so bad. Considering the similarity between this contract and the Nets’ original offer sheet, it seems Houston helped Armstrong save face after a bungled free agency (which is easier to accept when you’re adding a talented reserve to a formidable team).

But for how little is guaranteed and how much control the Rockets hold over the next four years, wouldn’t Motiejunas have been better off accepting the $4,433,683 qualifying offer?

This means Motiejunas can’t sign with the Nets, who signed him to the original offer sheet, for one year.

I bet it also means Motiejunas and Houston have agreed to a new contract. Otherwise, why release him from the offer sheet? The Rockets would be giving up a tremendous amount of leverage out of the goodness of their hearts – unless this is just a prelude to a new deal with Houston.